Autumn canal bridge and industrial

With Autumn well underway, trees are turning various shades of yellow, orange and olive. The grass is also lightening to olive and brown tints. I did the water with a three-toned blue wash, let dry, then applied a variety of wavy lines. 

Autumn colours canal lock, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2026

Here is a view of the highway 10 overpass bridge span, with a shimmering canal in the foreground. Similar to the previous painting, I applied the washes first, then over-painted with wavy strokes. The foliage was done with heavy mixes of yellow ochre (PY43) and various other Autumn-like colours.

Bridge canal shimmer, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2026

Making my way to the Kruger paper factory, I did this painting of a cargo-train, and silos in the background. The forms were built up with successive layers, texturing, and detailing with brush-work. It was a mostly monochrome scene, just blue from the sky with greyish beige throughout. So I emphasized purple (PV55) in the shadow areas. 

Kruger train silos, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2026

Running out of many paints on my palette, I had to make due, and use lots of purple! It came out looking earthy and almost psychedelic. 

Autumn trees ess curve, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2026  

All the views, Old Malt

Taking a tour around the Old Malt building slated for redevelopment, I did this one from its east side. An interesting roof line made for decent composition, and the patch work of graffiti added ambiance. The sky yesterday had a thin layer of textured clouds stretching across. 

Side horizontal old malt, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2026

At this time of year the sun stays low, which casts a slightly amber glow due to atmospheric effects. In this horizontal composition I also included the pink house, and a few other features including the bright sun orb. The pink house was part of the maltage, but some street artists painted it in its iconic colour, and added green shutters and fake flow pots. It also lights up at night from the inside, also here.  

Bright sun old malt, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2026

Looking up, you see a crumbling brick facade, a plethora of plants growing, and pigeons roosting high on top. It was a neat perspective. Locals and tourists were milling about, some photographing the structure, and a few intrepid explores wandering about inside the fence which is not allowed. As I painted, there was a distinct buzzing sound, like a large bee, then I spotted a small drone flying around the building high up. So I decided to investigate further. 

Looking up old malt, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2026

 

Leaving my bike on the street, taking the bike bag, ignoring the no trespassing signs and danger sings, I hopped over the 3 meter fence, easily scaled the side of the old malt building with my bare hands, its about 20 stories tall, and found my way to the apex, the pink house. It was a dangerous and foolish thing to do, and I could have gotten in trouble, or worse. But it may be the last chance to explore. Here is the view standing next to the pink house, looking down. And the drone buzzed past me, probably catching it on film. Darn, I suppose there is a YouTube video now of me standing up there with my bike, making a painting. Or, my bike was on the ground, that was the story.

Looking down old malt drone, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2026

 

Old Malt ruins

After hearing about the old Maltage ruins collapsing or, nearly collapsing, I headed down there to make some more paintings. The street, st Ambroise was fenced off all around the back part of the structure, and I could see the brick wall peeling off in places around the windows high up. A large graffiti adorned the wall, it actually said MONET. 

Old malt back graf, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2026

And a row of pylons, many cars were showing up and turning around because the road is blocked off. That overhead protector was there for years to protect pedestrians, now the sidewalk and road are blocked off. The plan is to turn the whole thing into a forested area with a pond for waterfowl. Just kidding, condos. 

Pylons old malt rear, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2026

And a side view, looking at some loading device, it probably filled trucks as they drove through the opening. The new Maltage is downtown around the old Port area, its fully functional. I did a few more at this location and will post later. 

Old malt side cone, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2026

 

Old Montreal dusk colours

With cool, overcast weather I sought out artificial lighting and colours to paint in Old Montreal. This corner shop was decorated pink and orange inside, with some decorations outside too, including a smiley face. The smiley face is actually a form of graffiti, someone puts a large sticker up, in this case, it was left up by the shop keepers. 

Pink shop, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

What gives, a painter in Old Montreal and he paints a scene of an alley full of dumpsters. A big chunky fire escape also added ambiance to the scene.  

Dumpster alley fire escape, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

This restaurant had bright yellow signs and lighting, which I abstracted into a series of squares and rectangles. The rest of the scene was cool and gloomy. 

Yellow restaurant abstraction, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026 

Peel basin, tents overpass towers commuter train

Nearby the highway overpass at Peel basin, this group of tents were set up and people living in them. I captured that in the painting along with traffic, and part of a new condo in the background. That red thing is an umbrella not a pylon, I wasn't wearing my glasses for painting today!

Tents overpass traffic, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

In the background are a few of the condo towers built recently, like the last ten years or so, with the elevated train (el) and canal in the foreground. The central wash blurred out, it was difficult conditions to paint in with cool dark and humid air. 

Towers el canal, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

The commuter trains were transporting people out of the city, so I composed this scene to give an impression of the train being lonely. Like, heading off into the sky almost. To do so, I moved the bridge supports and omitted one, and put the train off to the left as far as possible. On the right, you have a condo, with solid terrain across the bottom. Intentional back-wash, using a yellow wash, created the eerie glow in the sky. It was unpredictable painting today. There are more of Old Montreal I will post soon. 

Headin home, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026 

Lave auto signs and lights

One of the few businesses remaining along Maisonneuve street, its Lave Auto, French for car wash. They proudly advertise that the washing is done by hand, as opposed to automated buffing machines. Several people get work here, so it creates jobs to have small businesses like this in town. 

Lave auto signs, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

A neon tube light created an eerie glow inside the car wash. Once car was going through, and a truck was parked out front. The outer facade was once red brick but has been painted over several times to cover graffiti. 

Lave auto neon light, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

Yellow and orange trees provided a backdrop for the Lave Auto, with many sings and the garage doors visible. Unfortunately there was a for sale sign out front in among the signs, so this business is set to change ownership with an uncertain future. 

Lave auto horizontal, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

 

Overcast autumn canal near bridge

The leaves are starting to go red orange and yellow, with some falling onto the ground and water. It was overcast today, soft violet-grey and cyan tinted the canal. I used plenty of quin violet (PV55) a modern pigment that most brands carry. For the tree it was an interesting mix of perylene maroon (PR179) and pyrol orange (PO73). 

Autumn overcast canal, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

Working up a scene like this in light mist-rain condition is tough, the paint constantly soaks into the paper making dark areas grey out. With a lot of experience in these conditions, I adapt my technique to avoid excessive over-washes, and apply darks first when the paper is still relatively dry. 

Bridge canal graffiti, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

Here the rain-mist picked up a bit, but I managed to get through it and produce this painting. An orange buoy in the canal contrasted against the red-orange vines in the background. 

Orange buoy vines Autumn, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026